Game Performance Analysis: Is Mohamed Salah's Stardom Waning?
Mohamed Salah's Enduring Legacy Shines Despite Challenges at Liverpool
Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian footballing legend, continues to command reverence in the football world, despite recent offensive struggles at Liverpool. Despite a decline in his average number of ball touches and successful dribbles per match, Salah's status remains unshaken.
Since his arrival at Anfield in 2017, Salah has been a prolific force, finishing as the top scorer and assist provider in the 2024-2025 Championship season with an impressive 29 goals and 18 assists. He recently added another milestone to his illustrious career by scoring a penalty at Burnley, which made him the fourth-highest goalscorer in the history of the Premier League with 188 goals.
However, Salah's recent form has been a topic of discussion. Dietmar Hamann, a former Liverpool midfielder, suggested that at 33 years old, a striker loses their speed, which makes a significant difference. Hamann's theory, however, has been dismissed by Salah's entourage, who attribute the reduced productivity to the need for adaptation due to the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold and the lack of a replacement in the right-back position.
Arne Slot, Liverpool's coach, has declared that Salah is a player they heavily rely on, stating, "When you need your team to score, you leave Mo on the pitch." This reliance was evident in the team's recent run of four consecutive Premier League wins, despite the still-imperfect offensive animation.
Salah's connection with his new attacking partners, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, has been less than consistent, with Salah averaging less than one pass from them per match. This lack of connection could potentially improve with the anticipated debut of Alexander Isak, who is set to make his first appearance for Liverpool against Atlético on Wednesday evening.
In the past, Salah had key offensive partners like Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away in a car accident on July 3, and Darwin Núñez, who was transferred to Al-Hilal last month. The departure of these players has undoubtedly impacted the offensive dynamics at Liverpool.
Liverpool did not sign a direct replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold as right-back in the 2022/23 season, but they made other major transfers including forward Alexander Isak and winger Florian Wirtz, while Luis Díaz left the club. Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley, and Dominik Szoboszlai have taken turns in the right-back position since Alexander-Arnold's departure.
Despite the challenges, Salah was named the best footballer by his peers for the third time in the 2024-2025 Championship season, a testament to his enduring greatness and adaptability in the face of adversity.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
